If you’ve ever ridden the NYC Subway you’d probably recognize the instructions heard over the PA system by the train’s conductor or the automated recording: “Stand clear of the closing doors, please”. Perhaps you’re more familiar with the abbreviated announcement, “Watch the closing doors.” These necessary instructions are repeated at each stop and every station. This advisory is more than a simple courtesy protecting passengers from getting caught between the doors and assuring that everyone is in the train before it departs the station. Unless every door is closed, the conductor will not move the train. Veteran straphangers are already well aware of this. No matter how crowded the train may be, we need to press in before we can get moving. Usually, the most frequent offenders are out–of–towners and tourists. And of course, backpacks. Many times someone will be sure they are clear of the closing doors failing to realize their backpacks, stuffed with enough gear to hike the Appalachian Trail, have increased the depth of their person. This prohibits the doors from closing and results in the repeated refrain, “Stand clear of closing doors!”
Every train has this same safety protocol; if the doors don’t close, the train doesn’t move. It would be a dangerous situation if it did. Imagine accelerating from the station, reaching an average speed of 35 miles an hour, with even a single door opened! The NYC Subway system is one of the largest in the world, running 248 miles and having 472 stations across four of the five city boroughs. With nearly 3 million riders on a given day, I’d say making sure the doors are closed on a moving train is extremely important!
Becoming a Commuter Again
In the fall of last year, when I started a part-time job at a bookstore in midtown Manhattan, I became a commuter again, for the first time since attending college in downtown Brooklyn. I discovered the quickest way to get to the job was the Broadway/7th Avenue Local 1 train. It’s roughly a 25 minute trip from Whitehall Street, South Ferry to 59th Street, Columbus Circle. Most passengers pass their time on their phones. I prefer to observe people. During my recent commutes, I realized everyone, like me, needs to be somewhere. I know it’s not the most brilliant observation, yet, I was acutely aware that everyone who steps on the train has a destination in mind. There’s somewhere to be, because there’s something to do, sometime soon. It would surely make for interesting conversation to ask just a handful of people, “Where are you going?” “What will you be doing when you get there?” “What excites you about this?”
Vision and Destination
This observation led me to think about how we are always moving toward a destination. Though we can only live in the moment, it’s what we’re doing next that occupies much of our thinking. We are always looking ahead to the next thing. It may be where we’re planning to go or what we’re planning to do. I think this is where destination and vision differ.
Later this evening my wife and I are planning to meet friends from out of town for dinner. Our destination is a restaurant on Spring St, in SoHo. It is a stormy, cold afternoon with freezing rain, so we’ve decided to drive. We’ll skip the train this time and hope we find parking close to the restaurant. It’s not so much the destination that we’re looking forward to. It’s the time spent with friends we only see occasionally and the expectation of a great meal. I would say this is our vision for heading into the city. Everyone who boards a subway has both a destination, this is where they will arrive at the end of the trip, and a vision of what they intend to do when they get there. It is the vision that usually compels us toward the destination.
Where are we going in the Story of God?
When we look at the “Story of God”, we discover our final destination is what is usually referred to as “heaven”. In actuality, the Bible describes it is a “new heaven and new earth” where we will forever live in the presence of God. If we simply think of heaven as our eventual destination and don’t have a clear picture of what literally awaits us, we may not live with hopeful anticipation. It’s possible this eternity may not be a compelling vision for our lives and our most preferable future.
The inspirational vision of this eternal reality is the conditions we will encounter as described by the apostle John in Revelation 21:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
These verses present us with an incredible picture of what we will experience at the end of this age. Everyone who has faith in Christ will be present at this future event and participate in the “restoration of all things”. What a fascinating vision for what we can expect!
Reminders Along the Way
Just as the conductor’s directions mentioned above–“stand clear of the closing doors, please”–remind us to “move in” for the train to “move out”, it’s good to have reminders of what awaits us in God‘s future. Whether we’re facing tough times, enduring hardship, or suffering loss, we should be reminded that one day all things will be made new and everything will be restored to God’s original intent at Creation.
Vision is our great reminder. The prophet Habakkuk received a vision from the Lord as well as explicit instructions.
Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. (Habakkuk 2:2-4)
This vision was that God would eventually deliver his people from foreign oppression. Until that appointed time, they were to live in faith believing this promise.
Maybe you have a vision for your life you believe is God–given. Even if it appears to be slow in coming, let this vision inspire you to keep moving forward. God will get you to your appointed destination. Listen for instructions. Write the vision plainly so you will always be reminded. Don’t allow delays to discourage you from believing for your future. If you’ve ever taken the 1 train, you know delays are all too common. But, eventually we always arrived at where we’re going. Keep the faith.
*Featured Photo by Lerone Pieters on Unsplash